The critical resolved shear stress of a superalloy as a combination of those of its γ matrix and γ′ precipitates

Abstract

The critical resolved shear stress (CRSS), τ ₀, of peak-aged single crystals of the γ′-hardened commercial nickel-base superalloy NIMONIC 105 has been measured as a function of temperature T and orientation [hkl] of the compression axis. The same measurements have been carried out for the two constituent phases of NIMONIC 105: for the single-phase γ matrix and for the single-phase L1₂-long-range ordered γ′ phase. The value of T ranged from 283 to 1150 K, and the following orientations were studied: [001], [011], $[\bar 111]$, and $[\bar 123]$. The specimens were compression tested. The τ ₀ values of NIMONIC 105 and of the γ′ phase are anisotropic; the anisotropy of NIMONIC 105 is similar to that of the γ′ phase, but less pronounced. The τ ₀ of the γ phase is isotropic. The τ ₀ values of the γ and of the γ′ phase vary with T, whereas the τ ₀ of NIMONIC 105 is nearly independent of T for 400 K≤T≤1000 K. A model is presented that relates the function τ ₀ ([h, k, l], T) of NIMONIC 105 to the analogous functions of its constituent γ and γ′ phase.